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Manchester City push for talks with agent of £43m transfer target

Pep Guardiola is pushing ahead with plans to bolster his Manchester City squad this summer, and Leonardo Bonucci is emerging as his number one target.

The Italian international has been an integral part of both Juventus and Italy’s success in recent years, and has established himself as one of the top defenders in Europe.

In turn, it’s no surprise that he’s gained interest from some of the biggest clubs outside of Italy, with Sky Sports reporting that City are readying an offer of £43m and expect to hold talks with his agent.

Guardiola has already failed with a £38m bid, but they are set to test Juve’s resolve further, and if an agreement can be reached on personal terms, then it will certainly put pressure on the Serie A champions to sell.

Sky Sports add that the Spanish tactician will meet with Alessandro Lucci in the next few days, and will hope that they can reach a deal on personal terms while continuing negotiations with the Bianconeri over a suitable fee.

The central defensive area has been a problem for City in the last two years, with Vincent Kompany still looking for a solid partner to sit alongside him.

Meanwhile, the club captain has also struggled with injuries, and he’ll hope to avoid any further setbacks and play a crucial role for Guardiola next year.

Defensive partners don’t get much better than Bonucci who has won five consecutive Serie A titles with Juve, and has established himself as a figurehead of the Italy backline which also impressed at Euro 2016 this summer.

Aside from the defensive solidity that he offers, it’s more than likely that the 29-year-old’s ability to play out from the back has caught the eye of Guardiola, who will pay huge importance on having defenders capable of building play and being comfortable in possession.